The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-12-10

many portions of the wall are exceedingly
steep. If merely mounting these sections
of the wall are exhausting, what must
have been the human toll in lifting the
materials to these rugged heights2
One of the most remarkable facts
about the Great Wall is, that it runs
straight up the steepest mountain sides,
follows their SUBMITS where the direc-
ton favors, and it abruptly descends into
the deepest ravines and valleys, without
attempting to seek the lowest levels, in
this respect defying all the rules of mod
ern military or civil engineering.
Long portions Of the Great Wall and
towers are in excellent preservation, con-
sidering the wear and tear of ages. Near
towns and rivers some of the materials
have been removed for building and other
purposes. In fact, the writer himself
carried away several of the great, WELL
worn bricks.
That there should be any serious d oubt
Of the existence of the Wall, or OF it's vast
bulk, solidity, age, or length, is simply
absurd. Lord Mccartney, when he visit
ed it, estimated that the cubic yards of
materials used in it's construction exceed
ed in bulk all the materials of all the
buildings of Great Britain put together.
The writer took measurements OF the
Wall, which averaged twenty-five feet
high and fifteen feet thick, the founda-
tions being of c1t stone laid in regular
| COURSES with mortar. The sides of the
Wall, the parapets, and the towers are
constructed of burnt bricks. The inner
portion of the Wall is filled with earth
and broken stone well rammed and COM
pacted, while the top, between the para
pets, is paved with bricks and stones
About every thousand feet there is tow.
or, some thirty-five feet high, forming a
part of the Wall itself, but prof Getting
beyond and overlooking the face of the
Wall on either side. These towers evil
IDENTIFY formed the guard rooms OF the
barracks for the soldiers; and the stone
staircases which led from the top of the
Wall to the ground on the southern side,
as well as the stone thresholds entering
the towers, we're we'll worn by the feet of
countless soldiers who, for centuries,
passed to and fro on guard.
In order to duly appreciate this great
Chinese work, it may be interesting to
mention few historical facts. Portions
of the Great Wall were constructed by
the northern feudal Stat long before the
birth of Christ; but they were only unit
ed into one continuous Wall during the
reign of the most celebrated emperor of
the Tsin dynasty, about 204 B. o., when
China was really consolidated. 1t was
this same emperor-styled by modern
historians the Napoleon of China-who
signalized his reign, not only by complet-
ing the Great Wall, but by attempting a
yet more difficult task, that OF silencing
the criticisms of the Literati against his
rule, and the humiliation of the Chinese
claesics
The union of the older walls was a
great military work for the protection
of the northern confines of the empire
from the incursions of warlike and hos
tile tribes. In our day the construction
of the Great Wall of China is regarded
as foolish and wanton expenditure of
treasures, life and labor, but there is
this to be said in it's favor; for over sew
en- hundred years it was a secure bull
wsrk against the fierce barbarian waves
that beat alongs its base for over thous-
and miles. Beside, it did not cost as
much probably, as Europe spends and
loses in single year in preserving peace
and the balance of power.-V. d. Col
Inns, an the Christian World.